Does making a payment restart the statute of limitations?

Short answer

For debt buyers, no: Texas law says a payment or a written or oral reaffirmation doesn't revive a time-barred consumer debt they own. For other creditors, a signed written acknowledgment of the debt can matter, so be careful what you sign.

Helpful next

Defenses to a debt collection lawsuit
Statute of limitations on credit card debt

Sources

Tex. Fin. Code ch. 392 (Texas Debt Collection Act), incl. § 392.307
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 16 (limitations), §§ 16.004, 16.065, 16.069

Updated November 2026. General information about Texas law, not legal advice for your case. Laws and court rules change; we review these answers regularly.

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